AT&T snagged the exclusive rights to the new MiFi Liberate, the first mobile hotspot with a built-in touch screen.

The Liberate's 2.8-inch color touch-screen display was developed by Novatel Wireless, and is intened to to make it easier for customers to connect up to 10 Wi-Fi devices, as well as view data usage, manage connected devices, and change network and device settings.

The MiFi Liberate's 11-hour battery lets anyone surf the Internet, check and send email, and upload photos from home, or abroad in one of more than 200 countries that the global-ready device supports.

"As its name suggests, the MiFi Liberate is designed to connect [customers] to the mobile Internet when away from home or the office by arming them with their own portable hotspot, so they can stay connected to the people, places and information that matter most to them," Jeff Bradley, AT&T senior vice president of devices, said in a statement.

The touch screen seems to be the Liberate's selling point  a new feature that no other MiFi system has incorporated before.

AT&T's Liberate will run on its 4G network, which last week continued its LTE rollout, turning on its ultra-fast speeds in several large markets, including Detroit, Honolulu, Seattle, and Pittsburgh. The service provider also announced 4G LTE in Birmingham, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; Portland, Ore.; and Sacramento, Calif. It recently enhanced service in Philadelphia, as well as Rochester, N.Y., and Wilmington, Del.

About the Author

Stephanie joined PCMag in May 2012, moving to New York City from Frederick, Md., where she worked for four years as a multimedia reporter at the second-largest daily newspaper in Maryland. She interned at Baltimore magazine and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (in the town of Indiana, in the state of Pennsylvania) with a degree in ... See Full Bio

Get Our Best Stories!

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.